"'Men have forgotten this truth,' said the fox. 'But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.'"

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's words, spoken by the fox in *The Little Prince*, articulate a profound insight into the nature of relationships and responsibility. At first glance, the idea of taming refers to creating bonds, establishing trust, connection, and intimacy with another being, whether person or animal. To tame, in this context, is to invest time, attention, and care, allowing another to become special out of all the world’s vast anonymity.

Yet, the act of taming is not a fleeting moment, nor is its significance dissolved when circumstances change. When an individual chooses to connect deeply with another, there is an implicit moral contract: once a bond has been cultivated, leaving the other as one found them is no longer possible. There is a transformation in the relationship, both the tamer and the tamed become vulnerable, intertwined emotionally, their lives now altered by their interactions. With this transformation comes the responsibility to care for, respect, and honor that connection. Ignoring or abandoning it can result in pain or neglect, for the other is now dependent, at least in part, on the one who has tamed them.

Saint-Exupéry’s fox mourns the tendency of people to overlook the enduring obligations of love and friendship. Forgetting “this truth” means failing to recognize the seriousness of forming emotional attachments. The lesson underscores not only the beauty of meaningful relationships but also the duty inherent in them. To tame, to love, or to befriend isn’t just about joyous companionship; it includes the willingness to remain steadfast, to support, sometimes indefinitely. There is an ethical demand: those we have drawn close remain, in some measure, our responsibility, perhaps for a lifetime. In a world that often prizes convenience, this reminder asks for reverence, constancy, and compassion in our bonds with one another.